Which of the following statements regarding the ASABE standard soil cone penetrometer (ASABE S313) is/are correct?
Options:
(A) The standard stainless steel cone has an apex angle of $30^\circ$.
(B) The Cone Index (CI) is the penetration force divided by the projected circular base area of the cone, expressed in kPa.
(C) The Remolded Cone Index (RCI) measures the capacity of soil to maintain tractive strength under repetitive wheel passes.
(D) Cone Index is completely unaffected by soil moisture content and dry bulk density.
Answer Key:
A, B, C
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
• Standard penetrometer cone has a $30^\circ$ apex angle (A is correct).
• CI is defined as penetration force per unit base area ($N/m^2 = Pa$) (B is correct).
• RCI assesses soil strength deterioration under cyclical compaction (C is correct).
• CI is highly sensitive to soil moisture and bulk density (D is false).